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Ibrahim ibn Said al-Sahli facts for kids

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Globo celeste arabo inv.2712 IF 79685
Astrolabe from Said al-Sahli in Museo Galileo, Florence.

Ibrahim Ibn Saîd al-Sahlì (Arabic: إبراهيم بن سعيد السهلي) was a skilled craftsman from al-Andalus (which was a part of Spain ruled by Muslims long ago). He lived in the 11th century (from the 1000s to the 1100s) and was known for making amazing tools, especially globes and astrolabes.

Who Was Ibrahim Ibn Saîd al-Sahlì?

Ibrahim Ibn Saîd al-Sahlì was active between the years 1050 and 1090. He worked in important cities like Valencia and Toledo, which are both in modern-day Spain. We know about him because his name appeared in a list of students who studied mathematics in Andalusia around 1068. This shows he was a smart and educated person for his time.

What is an Astrolabe?

One of Ibrahim's most famous creations was the "Astrolabe of Al-Sahli." An astrolabe is a very old and clever instrument. Think of it like an early computer for the sky! People used astrolabes to figure out where the stars were at different times. They could also use them to tell the time, find their location, and even predict the movements of the sun and planets.

Ibrahim's Special Astrolabes

Ibrahim Ibn Saîd al-Sahlì made his first famous astrolabe in the city of Tulaytulah (now Toledo, Spain) in the year 1066. This astrolabe was special because it worked differently from others made at that time. It was unique and showed how innovative Ibrahim was. He didn't stop there; he went on to build four more astrolabes between 1067 and 1086. His work helped people understand the sky better and explore the world around them.

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